Where the Footprints End: High Strangeness and the Bigfoot Phenomenon, Volume I: Folklore

Where the Footprints End #1

by Joshua Cutchin, Timothy Renner

Our forests seem to be hiding something much more complex than an undiscovered gorilla. Bigfoot may be howling from a lonely mountaintop, but the bigfoot phenomenon is whispering secrets... if we will only listen. Eyewitnesses, investigators, and cryptozoologists worldwide contend ample evidence exists supporting the survival of large, hairy, apelike creatures alongside mankind today, lurking in the wilderness. By all appearances, these beings seem wholly natural, interacting with their surroundings and leaving behind hair, blood, droppings, and, of course, footprints. Yet despite their apparently physical nature, bigfoot and its hairy hominid kin consistently appear mired in High Strangeness—the peculiar, ineffable, and nonsensical absurdities so often encountered in paranormal phenomena.Some sightings seem more consistent with mythology than biology. Bigfoot often present supernatual attributes, like luminescent eyes or the ability to pass, ghostlike, through structures. Anomalous lights are regulalry seen in areas of frequent sasquatch activity. Footprints persistently, if rarely, display odd numbered toes, and—most bafflingly—bigfoot trackways suddenly terminate in the middle of open, untouched terrain. In Volume 1 of Where the Footprints High Strangeness and the Bigfoot Phenomenon, authors Joshua Cutchin and Timothy Renner carefully examine not only the intersection of hairy apemen with global folklore—of poltergeists, faeries, extraterrestrials, magic, witches, ghosts, and archetypal women-in-white—but also question the fundamental assumptions underlying contemporary cryptozoological beliefs surrounding bigfoot. "Impressively, even exhaustively researched, Where the Footprints End should give all students of the anomalous serious pause for thought. By documenting both the high strangeness that surrounds Bigfoot sightings, and the deep folklore in which they are embedded, Cutchin and Renner so far broaden the context of Bigfoot encounters that it is no longer possible to credit any single theory or literalistic interpretation concerning their nature. Indeed, we begin to suspect that the reality of Bigfoot is less a problem to be solved than a mystery to dissolve our view of reality itself. Here at last is the book that dear old Bigfoot deserves."- Patrick Harpur, author of Daimonic Reality "This book poses a danger to the foundations of cryptozoology. While mainstream Bigfoot investigators would have you believe that people around the world are merely encountering a lost ape, Cutchin and Renner dig into the details they've swept under the rug, excavating countless Bigfoot reports involving glowing orbs, telepathic communication, and paranormal phenomena that have more in common with tales of ancient gods and alien abductions than they do with primatology. Meticulously researched and backed up with a treasure trove of footnotes, Where the Footprints End is poised to do for Bigfoot what Passport to Magonia did for UFOs."- Greg Newkirk, Director of The Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and the Occult & Executive Producer / star of Hellier

Genres: Paranormal, Nonfiction, Bigfoot, Cryptids, Mythology, Cryptozoology, Folklore

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2020

Reviews

[Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, Bigfoot has always been a fun, but not super interesting, portion of the paranormal. The idea of an large ape avoiding all detection, and leaving no conclusive physical evidence, has been difficult for me to swallow. If you feel similarly, this book is for you.

Bigfoot has never been explored like this before. Seeing some of the strange connections between Bigfoot and aliens, fairies, and witches is downright startling. Also, the sheer amount of references and documentation is glorious.

Greg Newkirk put it best: this book "is poised to do for Bigfoot what Passport to Magonia did for UFOs."

[Alias Pending · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nonstop, adrenaline fueled, footnote powered thrill-ride review of Bigfoot lore and so much more... full review - Pending

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's not much room for skeptical takes here, but that's the point. What I liked about this is that it collected the weird pointy bits that many cryptid authors shave off to make their stories fit the idea of flesh-and-blood critters. Personally the weirder stuff is quite interesting to me. It forces one to consider that if these stories are literally true, they say something strange about the world. But if they're not literally true, they say something incredibly important about human perception and experience. (I'm inclined to the latter interpretation, but am always willing to take a look if a portal opens up and threatens to throw up a bigfoot.)

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Another collection of folklore, contemporary stories and theories seeking to tie together aspects of high strangeness. Some of the connections felt a little dubious to me, but overall it's all very interesting and there's no denying the similarities between accounts from long ago and those much more recent.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun little book by some guys who are generally sympathetic to the idea of bigfoot as an undiscovered animal, but have some problems with it - mostly, that there is an awful lot of bizarre stuff not attributable to a regular animal that happened in bigfoot accounts, and that proponents of bigfoot as animal frequently downplay or minimise this stuff, in a very similar way to what they claim dogmatic scientists do for bigfoot generally. this high strangeness is mainly what the book focuses on, and they look at it through a number of different frameworks, such as folklore and myth, poltergeist phenomena, and alien abduction accounts. cool stuff although they are a little credulous for my liking in terms of some of the sources they've used at times - the book is more about the amassment of overall trends than the veracity of any one account, but there's no need to cite stuff that just seems completely bogus when you could build the same picture without that. the engagement with folklore also seemed pretty superficial to me and i would like to see what an actual trained folklorist type would make of some of the stuff in here.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking to explore Bigfoot experiences and lore & you want the sources cited, this is the book to read.

This book was a gift to me as I've recently taken an interest in the Bigfoot phenomenon. I enjoyed how well put together this book is.

[Seriah Azkath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic exploration of the high strangeness that follows Bigfoot encounters more often than not! This is a must read!

[Chris Healey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exhaustively comprehensive overview of the mythology & folklore that surrounds the Bigfoot phenomenon. Some really interesting insights & information from all around the world. Thoroughly referenced too leaving readers opportunities to go into further depth on any of the stories presented. The authors achieve exactly what they set out to do.

[Jesse Bollinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fascinating! I really enjoyed how different aspects of Bigfoot were tied back into folklore traditions. There were so much covered in this book and all of it was fascinating. I can’t wait for volume two!

[Robert Bayliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been fascinated by BigFoot ever since being scared silly watching the Legend of Boggy Creek as a child in the 70's. We've all seen the Patterson Gimlin film and we can all be forgiven thinking that BigFoot is (if not a hoax), an undiscovered primate hanging on to existence in the forests of the Pacific NW of North America.
In recent years my fascination returned and was introduced to this book by Timothy Renner and Joshua Cutchin on Wes Germer's Sasquatch Chronicles podcast. The podcast dispelled my previous ideas, as the "wildman" phenomenon is felt across the American continent and beyond.
In Where the Footprints End the authors question the simple notion of a primate/hominid, and investigate the supernatural element to Bigfoot. Tim Renner has an open mind to the strange, and also manages to find reports from from previous centuries that marry up with recent reports. While Joshua Cutchin brings his knowledge of folklore into the mix.
The similarities between tales of ghosts, faery encounters, and Bigfoot are intriguing. Not everyone is a believer of course, yet people are seeing and experiencing something. The authors hint that the wild man trope may be hotwired into our subconscious, in more subtle ways than we can imagine.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun book, recommended to anyone who is interested in and open-minded about Bigfoot. Many Bigfoot books are from devoted cryptozoologists and focus on the idea of Bigfoot as a flesh and blood, undiscovered ape. There is nothing wrong with that per se; I read and enjoy plenty of those books.

But this book take a different tack. It focuses on the odder side of Bigfoot: the weird tracks, disappearing tracks, vanishing Bigfoot, etc. And it discusses the parallels between many reported Bigfoot sightings and other beings in folklore: fairies, aliens, witches, ghosts, etc. The similarities were vast in number, and while a few may have been an author reaching a little, for the most part they were true analogues; they were not having to manipulate the stories to make them fit.

Those unwilling to engage with the weirder side of Bigfoot may not enjoy the book, but for anybody open to the parallels and folklore would love it. It was also well written and edited, without the plethora of typos and grammar mistakes that often curse these types of books.

[Christine Best · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new and entirely fresh look at the Bigfoot phenomenon which puts forward the idea that Bigfoot is not a large flesh and blood ape but shares more in common with other supernatural phenomena such as poltergeists, ghosts and UFO’s. It also finds some interesting links between this New World ape and Old World traditions. An absolutely fascinating read (even if you don’t believe in Bigfoot or the paranormal). I cannot emphasise how much work has gone into this volume. There are exhaustive references for anyone who wants to check out original source material. Looking forward to the second volume.

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, it is always exciting and inspiring to read something built from a place of powerful and focused love. I am willing to overlook flaws when a book is able to effectively let me enter into the writer’s psyche. Whatever one’s attitude on the content may be, this thing oozes with passion and care.

[Peter Jacob van Vliet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seems very well put together.

I am Bigfoot agnostic. I don't know what is happening, but I'm sure that SOMETHING is happening and I'm also sure that people really are experiencing these things. At the very least this is an entertaining read.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting take on the Bigfoot Phenomenon, especially weaving in folklore with it and using it to question whether Bigfoot is Flesh and Blood or more Supernatural in nature. The only real down sides to the book were that it was a bit slow at times and repetitive.

[Stanley G Dau]

A fresh look at Bigfoot

A must read, especially if you're a firm believer in the flesh and blood Bigfoot. This will challenge you in good way.

[R. Moores · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contains some interesting folklore to explore further.

[Michael McGlinsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was something about revealing the possible truths behind where and how the bigfoot phenomenon has grown. Showing it's possible roots in ancient folklore.
Kudos.

[Peter A. Lio · Rating 4 out of 5]

solid and well researched

It’s always a pleasure to spend time with Cutchin! Thoughtful and well worth reading!
I just thought it could use a bit better organization.

[Sarah Huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was brilliant. I want to think about it all some more and then read part two. But honestly, what a fascinating, amazing read

[Jesus Villalobos D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Denso e informativo, pero sin llegar nunca a una conclusión o siquiera insinuar una.

Interesante como un análisis de avistamientos variados e históricos

[Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors’ theory is that Bigfoot is just one manifestation or component of a larger phenomenon. The describe anecdotes and folktales that either tie Bigfoot to things like fairies, poltergeists, and aliens. They explicitly call out Jacques Vallee as inspiration, who also promoted a grand unified theory of UFOs, fairies, anything “weird” as being displays of one thing. In fact, I had a hard time really differentiating what the authors and Vallee were saying. The book seems to say the same thing but more Bigfoot-centric, and that these are all aspects of Bigfoot. Vallee would say Bigfoot is one aspect of something even larger. The lines drawn by the author didn’t seem internally consistent as to what exactly is happening. Why is Bigfoot special amongst all the strange things people see and experience? That being said, the stories contained within were entertaining and interesting.

[Lucas Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Bigfoot Book I have read in years. I liked the writing style (many "paranormal non fiction" is not written well) and I lives the different take on flesh and blood bigfoot. I will eventually read the second volume.

[Daniel Mccallister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal book on a strange subject. I started as a flesh and blood advocate, but it doesn't take long to see there is more going on. The authors, like Vallee does with UFOs, show there are many correlations between bigfoot and fairies, ghosts, UFOs, ghost lights, etc. A fascinating look at folklore and the weirdness at the core of this mystery. I highly recommend!

[Joey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating subject matter, but not well organized. It’s repetitive at times and gets bogged down in the details. Seems like overlapping essays written separately and compiled together, rather than a book meant to be read all the way through. Truly fascinating, but i had trouble getting through it.

[Carl Ferguson-Zamora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read and well researched.

Have been wanting to read this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Very well researched. Makes me want to read Joshua’s and Timothy’s other books.